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Trust choir prepares for debut performance on Key Theatre stage

Staff working at Peterborough City Hospital are preparing to showcase their talents in the first public performance of the North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust choir this weekend.

Over 30 individuals who work in a variety of hospital services, such as theatres, executive management, physiotherapy, pharmacy, sterile services and IT, as well as nurses and doctors, have been busy practising their harmonies in readiness for their Festive Frolics show at The Key Theatre at 8pm on Sunday 25 November.

Funds raised from the concert will help to purchase items that will improve the experience for patients in a number of areas across Peterborough City Hospital.

Critical Care nursing colleagues Karen Peat and Tom Payne are the driving force behind the choir – which started as an idea to unite colleagues back in December last year.

Karen said: “It all started on a nightshift in December 2017. I like to sing to patients to make them smile, and, as Tom and I have both been in choirs in the past we thought it would be a great idea to bring colleagues together to do something for them and for the benefit of patients.”

Tom added: “We went around the wards canvassing for colleagues to join us in the choir, and in March 2018 we had our first choir practice in the chapel at Peterborough City Hospital. We were fortunate that the son of one of our colleagues, who is a music teacher, volunteered his time free to be our Musical Director and since he joined us, things have really begun to take shape.”

Since then, the choir has been practising their festive songs and some popular classics in readiness to put on the show. Funds raised on the night will be put towards the purchase of TVs for patient areas where currently there are no facilities.

Karen added: “There are some areas where patients come in for day treatment that can go on for a few hours or more, and this might help them pass the time. We are also keen to purchase some Z-beds for relatives staying with our palliative care patients.

“All our choir members are very proud to be representing the hospital in this way. We are excited about our theatre performance and feel really pleased to know we can make a difference to patients’ hospital stay.”

There are still a few tickets left for the event, Contact the Key Theatre on 01733 207230 or visit www.vivacity.org